While maybe not on most people’s lists of the most impressive DJ gear, Stanton has made a point of putting together some really effective entry-level devices that tend to have a lot going for them.
Here, the Stanton STX Portable Turntable continues this tradition by coming with a ton of really useful additions to help it stand out from the competition.
For example, not only is solidly put together, the Stanton STX, is a portable turntable equipped with an impressive mini innofader nano crossfader as well as some great audio sound.
It even has a rechargeable battery, meaning you can pretty much go anywhere with this thing without worrying about a ton of wires tripping you up.
Really, the only things we saw that could have been better were the fact that it was hard-locked to 7″ records and couldn’t be adjusted to anything bigger. Similarly, while certainly not the worse in the world, the Stanton STX’s tonearm is a bit more unstable than I’d like.
All in all, while it’s by no means a perfect turntable device, I think there’s way more good going on than bad. If you’re looking to get more into scratch DJing, there are a lot worse options out there.
- Super Sturdy Build
- Rechargeable Battery
- Built In Speakers
- Fun To Scratch On
- Only Uses 7" Records
- Torque Is Lower Than Standard Decks
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First Impressions
Design
Starting with the initial first look, the Stanton STX certainly makes a point of standing out. While most scratch turntables have a pretty standard look across the board, it’s clear Stanton went their own way, primarily in the amount of blue that’s thrown in the mix.
Not only that, but they gave the case an “X” shape, again, making them stand out a lot compared to the more cookie-cutter turntables on the market.
On its face, there is the aforementioned Innofader Nano independent crossfader as well as a pitch control and three different speed options. There’s also a fader select and fader reverse option, a curve adjustment option, as well as the audio level and tone controls.
The STX also comes with an “ultra pitch” option that is great for creatively using the bigger pitch options.
Build
Outside of the general look, the Stanton STX is a bit bigger than a lot of other portable scratch turntables. This can be a pro or a con based on what you are looking for.
If you plan on lugging this around with you and really leveraging that “portable” aspect, then I could see it losing out to something like the Reloop Spin or the Numark PT01 as those are certainly on the smaller and more easily carried side.
That said, if you want something that’s more durable, solid, and stable, or you’re planning on doing more in-home studio practicing, I’d honestly say that extra bulk and size went to good use.
Continuing on the stability side, the STX comes with some really big rubber end pads, keeping it locked in place like crazy.
I’m a guy that likes to really play around when scratching, so the fact that I can cut loose without worrying about sliding the actual turntable is really good.
It also comes with a 45 adaptor which folds in pretty well with the included cutout. This makes it ideal when carrying around (I think it’s meant to offset the size disparity) with its aluminum carry handle.
It also has fully rechargeable batteries, but we’ll go into that a bit later.
Input/Output Ports
Lastly, in terms of ports, while the Stanton STX, does have some places for your headphones and USBs, it’s not going to be on some crazy level as you’d expect from a DJ mixer or DJ controller.
Here, you’ve got a standard USB port type-C charging connector alongside a 1/8″ minijack line-in. There’s also a 1/4″ and a 1/8″ headphone out port, but that’s pretty much it.
As I said, this meant a smaller and more portable feel as well for those that like practicing at home using their headphones. It does have Bluetooth connectivity for any speakers, so that’s certainly an option.
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A Deeper Look
7″ Record Platter
First thing first, we’re going to address the 7″ elephant in the room, and that’s the 7″ inch platter for the 7″ records. It’s just kind of crazy to me that they opted for something a bit bigger while using such small records.
It’s clearly meant as a design choice rather than a function-based one, as much smaller turntables can play with 10″ and 12″ records without any real problems. I think they were going for a very specific “scratchers only” decision since larger records tend to be very difficult to scratch with.
And while I certainly get that sentiment, the fact is that most people would at least like the option for more general use if possible.
Still, with all that being said, if you’re someone that only plans to scratch on this scratch turntable, then having 7 inches as the only option may be something of an advantage since it just means you’re getting the most stable option compared to others using a bigger and more flimsy record size.
Built In Speaker Sound
Next up on the Stanton STX, the built-in speaker sound was actually way better than I thought it was going to be.
Full disclosure, I expected it to be pretty much a headphone-only type of deal, so the fact that the speakers actually operate at a level worth your time is definitely a sit-up straight moment.
Now, I don’t want you to think this is doing anything magical or crazy (it is still a small portable scratch turntable, after all). Its sound is really impressive for its size, able to fill up a whole room quite easily.
While I’d say you’re still better off using the option for headphones or connecting with some larger speakers, if you don’t have any on hand and are practicing, you’ll be able to do pretty well with just the on-hand speakers included.
However, the stereo RCA outputs will also allow you to connect external mixers and speakers for live performances.
Rechargeable Batteries
There’s also the inclusion of a rechargeable battery. I’ve got to say that this new generation of DJ gear is getting better all the time.
The inclusion of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is one of the newest innovations and makes the Stanton STX, a serious contender for any scratch DJ that wants something they can whip out and play with, without worrying about connecting a ton of wires.
The rechargeable batteries are not insane or anything and are charged by an AC adapter.
You’ll be able to go for a few hours before needing to charge it up again, but even with that said, it’s still worth it to go through an entire performance or practice run without needing to be tied in with a power outlet.
This technically means you could be practicing just about anywhere, even when heading to an actual performance.
That’s REALLY crazy when you start to think about it and where you can perform at.
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Overall Performance
What We Like
- Super Sturdy Build
- Comes With a Rechargeable Battery
- Speakers Have Great Sound For The Size
- Very Fun To Scratch On
- Interesting Overall Design
What We Do Not Like
- Only Uses 7″ Records
- Torque Isn’t Quite As Impressive As Full-On Scratch Turntables
- Size Could Potentially Be Too Much For Some
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Stanton STX Portable Turntable: The Verdict
As it stands, the most popular scratch DJ gear mods are included on the Stanton STX portable turntable unit, including a Start/Stop button, an in-built speaker, and a pitch slider with Ultra- Pitch selection switch.
The Stanton STX is a very well-put-together portable scratch turntable, and while it does ask for you to use smaller records to play with it, that’s really the only concession you have to make.
If you’re serious about getting their practice scratching in at any time and at any place, provided you can get over it being a bit bigger than others, this is something you should seriously consider picking up.
The most popular mods are included on the STX, including a Start/Stop button, an onboard speaker, and a pitch slider with an Ultra Pitch selection switch.
